Impact of operating conditions on the strength and frequency of destruction of fibre-cement composites

Abstract

The paper examines the impact of possible operational factors on strength and frequency parameters generated by bending of fibre-cement panels. The tests were performed on elements cut out of a standard commercially available panel. The samples were exposed to factors described as environmental (soaking in water, bath-drying cycles, freeze-thawing cycles) and unique (flame ignition and high temperature exposure) and then subjected to three-point bending tests. Acoustic emission (AE) signals were acquired during the external load application. After the measurements were completed, the strength of individual elements was determined and the frequencies generated during bending were calculated. The obtained results were analysed statistically. Comparing the results obtained for a group of samples subjected to environmental and unique factors, significant differences between them were noted. It was noted that the decrease in the strength of the samples is related to the emission of lower frequency sounds. It was found that the application of the presented methodology allows to determine the condition of the fibre-cement boards in use.

Keywords

• fibre-cement composites
• ventilated façades
• acoustic emission method
• bending strength